Kids Show Future's In Good Hands

Sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Fairfield County, Conn., the competition for high school students drew 34 entries from eight schools in the county.

The contest, which opened the association's recent home show in Greenwich, began five years ago to encourage teen-agers to develop their interests in home building.

''We're counting on these students,'' said Jerry Effren, the association's president, to ''come up with the creative ideas to keep our industry healthy.''

Given a site plan with a view of Long Island Sound, the would-be architects were told to design a 2,800-square-foot frame house.

It had to have three bedrooms, two and a half or three baths, a laundry room, kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, study or guest bedroom and two-car garage.

Three Fairfield County architects judged the designs based on the building's relationship to the environment, the function and flow of the rooms, the use of amenities and the overall appearance and presentation.

''The entries were high caliber, making the judgment quite difficult,'' said William S. Valus of Valus and Carpenter Associates of Westport, one of the judges.

Chris Dolan, a junior, won first place and a $1,000 savings bond for his two-story colonial design. The judges said they were most impressed by his competence, creativity and the plan's sensitivity to the environment.

The expansive views from the living areas took full advantage of Long Island Sound. The stucco exterior and placement of the house kept a sense of harmony with the land. And the layout made efficient use of space.

While most of the plans called for chopping down trees, Chris worked around them, saving several maples and a very old oak. ''I thought it was important to the land and to the design of the house,'' Chris said.

He drew a circular driveway around the oak, making it an accent not a hindrance.

The master bedroom was on the main floor and had a 30-foot cathedral ceiling. In the garage was a carefully-drawn Mercedes.

Chris, who plans to study architecture in college, started the project in January, and got ideas by studying other houses, including his own.

John Havranek, a senior, won second place and a $500 bond. The contemporary design featured a swimming pool, spa and greenhouse.

''I designed something I would want to live in,'' said John, who plans to study architecture at Rice University.

Dalia Ventura, a technical school student, won $250 for third place for a colonial design featuring balconies in front.